Ireland’s flood damage bill to cost tens of millions

The cost of damages from Monday night’s storm on the east coast of Ireland is likely to cost tens of millions of euro, the Irish Times reports.

Irish Insurance Federation chief executive Michael Kemp predicted the cost to be “considerable” as most of the flash flooding occurred in densely populated areas of Dublin, such as Harold’s Cross, Dundrum, Donnybrook, and Irishtown.

He told the Irish Times it was impossible to estimate an exact figure of the cost at this stage as the majority of damage was caused by excess rain water, rather than flooding from waterways, which was the normal cause for flooding incidents in the past.

Dublin fire brigade received in excess of 1,000 phone calls from householders.

Government officials have also vowed to speak with insurance industry reps on how they deal with homes that are prone to flooding, Minister of State for the Office of Public Works Brian Hayes has said.

“If funding has to be found in terms of dealing with a number of people who are really in a destitute position we will look upon that but I think it’s too early to say that now," Mr Hayes said in an interview on RTÉ Morning Ireland on Wednesday.